Barcino (Barcelona, Spain) is now the major city of the region of Catalonia in modern Spain, a region which passed from Carthaginian hands into Roman control in the second century before Christ. The city was founded by Augustus as the colony 'Colonia Iulia Augusta Paterna Faventia' and its territory extended from the River Baetulo (Besos) to the Rubricatus (Llobregat). It grew to considerable importance because of the strategic position it held on the road between Tarraco (Tarragona, Spain) and Narbo (Narbonne, France) and its excellent harbor. In 265 it was destroyed by the Alamanni and the Franks but was subsequently rebuilt with stronger fortifications than before. In the years 409-11 the Spanish usurper Maximus made Barcino a mint city. In 414 it was taken by the Visigoths led by Ataulf, was thereafter named 'Barcinona', and served as the Visigothic capital. Remains of the Roman city are slight in the modern city of 1,600,000 people, although large Roman villa-farms have been excavated nearby.